Instead, the usher actually drew a comparison to the tabernacle of ancient Israel. ⁣

The Israelites set the pattern of using the best materials that they could, spending countless hours preparing every detail, as a symbol of their sacrifice and dedication to the Lord! ⁣

If the tabernacle was going to be used to worship the Lord, then they wanted to put forth their best effort in every single detail. ⁣

“And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.” (Exodus 37:2) ⁣

This lesson from my temple open house usher really stuck with me. ⁣

Am I giving my absolute best to the Lord as a symbol of how I feel about Him? ⁣

Or is He getting my leftovers from whatever else I have going on that day? ⁣

Don’t get me wrong, life is busy and crazy and insane. ⁣

With everything I have going on as a mortal human being, it’s not really possible to spend all day every day giving Him my best. ⁣

And I hope those questions don’t weigh you down with shame. ⁣

Instead, I hope they inspire you to do a little better in some small way. ⁣

Can I give more of my best self to the Lord?⁣

Can I make sure He isn’t ever the one getting pushed off my to-do list due to over scheduling?⁣

Can I give Him time when I know my mind is in the best shape it can be?⁣

Do I make sacrifices to give Him time?⁣

My little inspiration, my little nudge from the Spirit in response to these questions probably looks different than yours. ⁣

“My best” changes every day. ⁣

But just like ancient Israel, I think I can do a little better at choosing to give my best to the Lord as a symbol of what He means to me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Only the best  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Just do your best!”⁣

I know that many people have pure intentions when they say it. ⁣

But I have a hard time with it because… ⁣

How am I supposed to know if I did my best?⁣

There are some days where my the TV is on for a lot of the day.

And I think… was I really doing my best today?⁣

Sometimes, I’m super sick, or totally overwhelmed, or utterly exhausted, and I think that I did my absolute best for keeping children alive that day. ⁣

But other days, I wonder. ⁣

Was that really my best, or am I giving myself an out?⁣

It’s hard to know. ⁣

But I find comfort in the Lord’s beautiful advice to avoid laboring more than I have strength. ⁣

“Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength… be diligent unto the end.” (D&C 10:4)

Because I’ve realized that my strength really is different each day.⁣

Some days, I have strength to conquer the world and look good doing it. ⁣

And other days I have to muster the strength to care for my kids and all that they need, and I look like a hot mess doing it. ⁣

PLUS every single person has different “strength” each day, too!⁣

Comparing my amount of strength to other people’s amount of strength is the fastest way to feel pretty terrible about myself. ⁣

So instead, I’ve started thinking… “Man, good for them. I’m so glad she had strength to organize that for her family today.”⁣

Don’t run too fast. Don’t labor more than you have strength. ⁣

But find comfort in the fact that the craziness of mortal bodies and mortal trials gives us different levels on different days. ⁣

And when we don’t know if we are “doing our best” or just slacking off, we can follow the Lord’s advice in the very next verse. ⁣

Pray. Pray always. ⁣

And that’s how I get the nudge to push myself a little more, or to take a breather. ⁣

Because the Lord knows my strength.⁣

He isn’t judging me on a sum total of my actions each day. ⁣

He knows what I can do, what I can’t do, and what I need support on. ⁣

And He will gladly send His Spirit to give me this wisdom each and every day. ⁣

All I have to do is ask.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post The phrase I actually DISlike first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

This has been a question on my mind for years now.

When well-intentioned people say, “You don’t have to be perfect, just try your best!”

It’s a little confusing because every day looks drastically different for me.

And so how do I know if I’ve actually done my best, or if I’ve fallen short with a mediocre effort for the day?

Most of us are familiar with this famous scripture in 2 Nephi 25:23:

“For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”

Initially, it’s easy to think that we have to do ALL we can do first, and then Christ steps in with grace to fill the gap.

But the more I have studied and learned and pondered about grace, I’ve realized—

Christ’s grace is what enables us to even try to “do our best” each day.

Sure— my mental capacities, busy schedule, attitude, health… they all affect what my “best” could possibly look like each day from the outside.

But I think that our outward results don’t really always convey where our hearts are at.

I think doing “my best” or “all I can do” each day actually means that my heart is turned to my Savior.

The dishes may or may not get done, my scripture study may or may not be meaningful, I may or may not have time to serve someone else…

That stuff changes all the time.

But Jesus asks that we always remember Him.

He’s invited us to covenant to do that, in fact.

And if we turn our minds to Jesus over and over again, if we are spiritually-minded, if we repent constantly, if we praise God…

Then our Savior’s grace is with us all day (and all night) long.

“We must do our best, which includes repentance, but it is only through the Lord’s grace that we can realize our divine potential.” – Clark G. Gilbert

We will never earn grace.

“Our best” from an outside viewpoint will never be enough.

But crafting a covenant relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ will create the best and most grace-filled days imaginable!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Did you really do your best? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

As I walked through one of these beautiful temples, one of our ushers told us that the reason why the church only wants the best and most beautiful craftsmanship within temples is not to show off or spend money needlessly.

Instead, he actually drew a comparison to the tabernacle of ancient Israel.

They set the pattern of using the best materials that they could, spending countless hours preparing every detail, as a symbol of their sacrifice and dedication to the Lord!

If the tabernacle was going to be used to worship the Lord, then they wanted to put forth their best effort in every single detail.

“And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.” (Exodus 37:2)

This lesson from my temple open house usher really stuck with me.

Am I giving my absolute best to the Lord as a symbol of how I feel about Him?

Or is He getting my leftovers from whatever else I have going on that day?

Don’t get me wrong, life is busy and crazy and insane.

With everything I have going on as a mortal human being, it’s not really possible to spend all day every day giving Him my best.

And I hope those questions don’t weigh you down with shame.

Instead, I hope they inspire you to do a little better in some small way.

Can I give more of my best self to the Lord?

Can I make sure He isn’t ever the one getting pushed off my to-do list due to over scheduling?

Can I give Him time when I know my mind is in the best shape it can be?

Do I make sacrifices to give Him time?

My little inspiration, my little nudge from the Spirit in response to these questions probably looks different than yours.

“My best” changes every day.

But just like ancient Israel, I think I can do a little better at choosing to give my best to the Lord as a symbol of what He means to me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Giving my best  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.